Tropical Plants

The ovate light green tropical foliage is alternately banded with contrasting dark and light green and has a light green midvein and edging. The Zebra Plant, Goeppertia zebrina previously Calathea zebrinus, adds a delightful tropical look whether it is used as a specimen container plant or as a perennial in shaded gardens and landscapes. This is an easy to grow tropical, naturally evergreen, rhizomatous perennial from southeastern Brazil that prefers an average moist soil rich in organic matter with good drainage as it never wants to remain soggy wet. Prefers high humidity levels which may be supplemented when grown indoors by setting it in a saucer fill with rocks and water. The Zebra Plant has earned the Royal Horticulture Society Award of Garden Merit for its easy going yet durable nature. Item# 12291

A rosette of mid-green leaves with irregular white cross bands. Occasionally produces a succession of white star like blooms from the center of the plant. Use this larger growing Cryptanthus in mixed container gardens for a striking color and texture contrast.Item # 760.

This uniquely colored Cryptanthus produces a rosette of deep burgundy or nearly black leaves with irregular white cross bands. This easy to grow tropical looks great spilling from terra-cotta colored containers, in mixed container gardens, or as an underplanting for larger growing plants. Probably our favorite Earth Star! Item# 761.

Bright orange, 1" wide upward facing daisies are produced from spring to fall atop wispy wiry stems and are held above the deep green, fuzzy foliage attracting a variety of smaller pollinators including bees and butterflies. Zemmenia, Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida, is a low growing naturally mounding, drought resistant, Texas tough, small native shrub-like perennial that is a mainstay of pollinator gardens from central Texas to the Rio Grande Valley as well as along the southwestern border and into Mexico. It seems to flower best and have the tidiest habit in full sun but can tolerate some shade but it may be at the expense of flowers. Zexmenia generally prefers a well-drained sandy or rocky soil but is adaptable to good garden soils as long as the plants have good to excellent drainage. It also makes a forgiving container plant but again provide sharp drainage. The butterfly in the image is a Western Pygmy Blue. Item# 13085